HIGH WAY ROBBIE: Robinson Cano’s 17th homer was the highlight of the Yankees’ 4-2 loss in Baltimore. Photo: Reuters

BALTIMORE — The Yankees and Mariano Rivera are desperate to let him do what he has done better than any man ever, namely save games.

But it’s kind of tough to save games when you don’t have any leads.

“Definitely, the losing is not good. That’s much more important than me getting work,” said Rivera, who again was undisturbed in the bullpen as the Yankees’ losing streak reached five games last night when the Orioles finished a series sweep with a 4-2 victory at Camden Yards. “If I don’t work and we win, that’s important, but not pitching and losing, that is not a good combination.

“But that’s the way it is. That’s my job. My job is to save games. Obviously, we’re losing, and when we’re losing I don’t have the chance to do that. Hopefully we can change all that.”

And so the game’s greatest all-time closer remained like an un-gassed Porsche sitting in a garage or Sinatra without a working microphone. Rivera sat idle for a fifth straight day and fifth straight game. He last pitched — and won — Tuesday against the Rangers.

“I just have to stay focused, do my work. I mean, there’s nothing you can do,” said Rivera, whose 26 saves trail only Baltimore’s Jim Johnson — who earned his major-league-leading 28th last night — Texas’ Joe Nathan and Pittsburgh’s Jason Grilli, who both have 27. “Whatever happens, happens. All of it is in the past, so hopefully I get the opportunity to pitch and I’ll do a good job.”

At least he’s strong and not overworked at age 43.

“Our biggest concern is always keeping him fresh, and we’ve been able to do that for a number of different reasons,” manager Joe Girardi said. “The way we’re doing it right now is not my favorite.

“If he goes too long without getting work, we’ll get him in a game. But Mo really knows how to prepare himself. When you’ve done it as long as he has, he knows what he needs to do to be sharp. … So if we feel he needs a little work, we’ll get him in there.”